Could Your Business' Lighting Be Affecting Productivity?

Being cooped up in an office all day can be a real drag, especially if
it’s a beautiful day. How great would it be if your boss would let
you work outside?

Research shows that if your supervisor wants to get the most out of his
or her employees, outdoor work time on sunny days might not be a bad idea.
Certain colors of light, especially those most closely related to sunlight,
have been shown to boost productivity!

Before you call an electrician in Comal County, TX to replace all the lights
in your office to increase your work output, let’s find out more
about good and bad types of lighting for your place of business.

Light and temperature

First, a quick refresher course on temperature of light for those of us
who slept through middle school science class. Light is measured in Kelvin
(K), which is actually the quantification of color in an object at different
levels of temperature. Think about a sliding scale with blue at the high
end and red at the low end, with pure white in the middle—the higher
the Kelvin output of light, the more blue; conversely, the lower the Kelvins,
the more red.

Lower temperature colors (up to 3,000K) range from red to yellowish-white
and are considered “warm colors.”

Mid-range colors are between 3,100K – 4,6000K and have a “cool
white” feel to them.

The higher color temperatures appear blue-white and are 4,600K or more.
The highest color temperatures are called “cool” or “daylight
colors.”

To put those numbers in perspective: light from a campfire is about 2,000K
and is considered a warm color, while a bright and sunny summer day is
going to hit you with about 5,000K, which would actually be considered
a cool color.

Ideal lighting for your interior

Interior decorators recommend lighting your home with warm to mid-range
colors because they create a comfortable environment. An electrician in
Comal County, TX might recommend lighting a meeting room at your business
with these warmer colors to emit a feeling of trust amongst coworkers
and clients, for example. A conference room should be lit with mid-range
colors that will foster a warm sense of trust while also invigorating
employees with “cool” blues.

Researchers say that cooler light (sunlight in particular) keeps you alert
and active. In a perfect world, bosses would replace all walls with windows
and even let you work outside. We all know that’s not a real option
unless you work in the parks department.

Fortunately, recent studies regarding light and productivity say that working
in spaces that are lit with 17,000K “blue-enriched” light
bulbs increase workers’ productivity by enhancing acuity and alertness,
while eliminating fatigue and that all-too-familiar daytime sleepiness
that many employees feel mid-day.

Next time you get that “2:30pm feeling,” don’t reach
for an energy drink—instead, try switching up the light in your
office. High Kelvin “blue-enriched” lights are more likely
to keep you alert through the day and should increase your employees’
work output.

Our knowledgeable electricians can set you up with the perfect lighting
for any room in your building. Call us today at (830) 224-2477 for a
free quote!